In the late 1980s, Sacramento was shaken by the discovery that a serial killer had been living in their midst. Beneath the grandmotherly exterior of Dorothea Puente, a seemingly kind landlady, lurked a chilling secret. Puente preyed on vulnerable tenants, quietly murdering them for financial gain. As suspicions grew, investigators unraveled the shocking reality behind her deadly deception.

In the 1970s, Southern California was gripped by fear as a string of brutal murders left authorities baffled. Patrick Kearney, later dubbed the ‘Trash Bag Killer’, preyed on young men, luring them with his wicked charm before committing horrific acts of violence. For years, Kearney evaded capture, disposing of his victims' bodies along highways and instilling terror across the region.

In July 2000, the quiet town of Northampton was rocked by the gruesome discovery of a whole family brutally murdered in their home. Phillip Austin, once seen as an ordinary husband and father, shockingly slaughtered his wife, two children, and even the family dogs in an act of unimaginable violence. Psychological analysis revealed Austin's seemingly normal exterior masked a deadly darkness.

In the 1980s, Kansas City was gripped by terror as young men began to vanish. Robert Berdella, an unassuming local figure, hid a gruesome secret. His home was a den of torture where his victims were subjected to unimaginable suffering before he brutally murdered them. For years Berdella evaded suspicion, but when one victim managed to escape, police sought to unmask this sadistic killer.

In 1986, the Brighton area was gripped by fear after two young girls were found murdered in a wooded area. Despite being arrested, Russell Bishop shockingly evaded justice due to a lack of evidence. Through gripping interviews with detectives who worked on the case and psychological analysis, Bishop's dark past and the failings that allowed him to strike again are revealed.

In 1989, the town of Billingham was stunned by the brutal murder of Julie Hogg. Billy Dunlop, the prime suspect, was initially acquitted due to a legal loophole. Through gripping interviews with detectives who worked on the case and psychological analysis from experts in the field, the race against time to bring an unassuming but cunning killer to justice is explored.